Improvement in billiard-registers



NITED "STATES CHARLES F. WASHBURN or PORTLAND, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BlLLlARD-REGISTERS.

Spcc'li alien forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,2 l8, dated January 6, 1874; application filed September 1, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. WAsHBUn-N, of Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Billiard-Registers and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clea. and exact description thereof, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure lis aface view, showing the indicators and dials. Fig.2 shows a side elevation of the working parts. Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating the manner in which the bell is struck at the desired time.

Same letters show like parts.

a, l), and 0 show the dials and their indicators (1 a f. d and c are intended to score the number of points made by the players in each game. f records the number of games played.

The especial objects of my invention are to provide a device that will, by the striking of a bell or some other sound, indicate that a game has been begun, when the first score is made, that will record the number of games as fast as they are finished, and one that is also accurate and quite convenient in use.

The indicators 0 and f are set on shafts extending within the box or cover 72 On the inside ends of these shafts are set eccent-rically .he arms t j. 7a is a toothed wheel on the same shaft with the indicator/i The toothed wheel is moved by the arms 2' j.

To illustrate the operation of the parts, suppose the various indicators are in vertical positions, pointing at the commencement of the score on each. dial. Then, suppose the person using the indicator (1 is the first to count, the movement of the indicator pushes up the arm '1', rotating the toothed wheel 7;. This movement of the wheel allows the spring on to slip off the notch, and brin its arm or projection n in contact with the lover 0 pivoted atp. This lever has a foot, g, which moves the weighted arm a, and so causes the bell to sound; thus the commencement of a game is indicated. When the bell has once been struck by the iovement of either of the indicators 0 or d, the movement of the other from the supposed position will not repeat the sound until the indicator causing the sound has made a complete circuit, or until either of them has so done. This results from the fact that a complete revolution of either of the indicators (1 or a only moves the arms i or j over one of the teeth of the toothed wheel 7;. The arms 4 and j operate on opposite edges of the wheel is. They are pivoted to the shafts of the indicators d and c at such distance from their centers as to make their movement no greater than the len gth of the teeth, as before specified. As shown in the drawing the arm 1', moved by the indicator (1, rotates the wheel is by pushing upward on the wheel, and the other by drawing downward. X'Vith this view j is fitted with a hook or shoulder, or other proper appliance. s and t show springs or tongues to keep the arms j properly in gear with the wheel 7;. u is a small dog to lock the wheel as it revolves.

The general operation is as follows: \Vhen the first count is made in a game, the spring at is then on the edge of a tooth of k, and when the count is registered the movement of the indicator and its arm 2' or j sufficiently rotates the wheel 70 to allow the spring to slip over the edge, where it rested, into the next notch, and so strike the arm or lever 0, and thus sound the bell. When either of the players has reached the full score, a second movement of the wheel k is occasioned, and this rotates the indicator f sufficiently to record the finishing of the game. The dog it prevents the same from being changed by any backward movement. The other indicator can then be moved up to the commencement of the figures on its dial preparatory to another game.

Thus it will be seen that thisdevice not only indicates when each game is begun, but prevents players or any one from returning a less number of games than have been in reality played.

When a discount-game is to be played, by an additional gear to be thrown in or out, as desired, the indicator on one of the countingdials can be made to take a movement the reverse of that of the other, and so subtract from the amount of one game or score what is made or scored by the other. The player moves his indicator to the figure showing the amount he has scored, and from this the other motions of the machine result automatically.

2' shows the figures around the dials.

It will be seen that the indicatorfshowing, as it does, the number of games played acts to prevent any person having charge of a sa 10011 from rendering false a "counts to his emlover.

I do not claim the combination of two sets of works and recording-dials, the means for operating them being distinct, except when the fingers are to be restored to the zero point. Neither do I claim the use of a bell to show when a count is registered, except in the combinationherein described. Neither do I claim, broadly, the use of dials for indicating the amount of the count; but only the three dials herein described, and these in the combination set forth. I am aware of In gersolls patent No. 52,4:17, 0t 1866, and Earl and Ilawleys patent No. 64,000, of 1867, and I disclaim the combinations therein set forth.

\Yhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the indicators (7 0. of the arms '2' j, springs s t m, lever 0, weighted arm I, and a bell, as herein set forth.

2. The toothed wheel 7., with its shaft rigidly set therein, in combination with the indicator f, arms 2 springs s t m, and dog 1!, as herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of August, 1873.

(JILUKLES 1". "\VA SUBURB.

\l'itnesscs:

\YM. Hm'ur CLIFFORD. flown: W. I'IASKE'LL. 

